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The slow but lethal effects of certain cooking fuels
Though traditional, some cooking fuels, such as wood, coal and butane gas can be particularly harmful to the lungs. In one study, six hundred women from the Ivory Coast who had been cooking 5 days a week for at least 5 years were questioned to find out what type of cooking fuel they used.
While all those who used wood showed respiratory damage, the results for those who cooked on coal were scarcely any better: 98% of them were affected. And in the case of butane gas, the number affected was lower but still roughly one woman in every two was affected by the pollution caused by using butane gas for cooking.
Sneezing and nasal obstructions are also more common in women who prefer cooking on wood fires (45%) or on coal (38%). The figure for those who use butane gas is 16%. An obstinate cough, pains in the chest and dyspnoea (shortage of breath) were also found to affect one in every two women who cooked using wood.
This is because, when they burn, these natural fuels pollute the air inside the home. They release fine particles of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and benzene. The danger is all the more serious as many homes do not have ventilation or even a chimney. Consequently this type of pollution leads to a considerably higher death rate caused by conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial dilation, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, etc. So always ensure that your kitchen is well ventilated … even when you are simply heating water.
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